Work It Out

SCRIPTURE: 1 Chronicles 14-15; Psalm 132; Matthew 18

David prayed to God: “Is this the right time to attack the Philistines? Will you give me the victory?”

God answered, “Attack; I’ll give you the victory.”

1 Chronicles 14:10

“If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you’ve made a friend. If he won’t listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won’t listen, tell the church. If he won’t listen to the church, you’ll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God’s forgiving love.

Matthew 18: 15-17

OBSERVATIONS: Jesus changed the way we iron out our difficulties. With David, the goal was “winning.” With Jesus, the goal was “restoring community.” Disagreements are not supposed to be binary equations. Disagreements are supposed to be conversations with beloved friends, beloved community, and even beloved enemies.

APPLICATION: Joey, let go of the need to be right. Let go of the need to make things come out “right.” Let go of the fear of losing, the fear of diminishment, and the fear of being wrong.

PRAYER: God, heal our factions, frictions, and fractions in the name of the Christ. Amen.